'Apprentice' casting call at UH lures eager applicants

UH alumni cast their Apprentice fates

Published 6:30 am, Friday, February 4, 2005

Be careful what you wish for.

Like a spot on The Apprentice, the show where contestants are publicly flayed and fired by Donald Trump and starting this fall, by Martha Stewart.

But it's the chance of success, not abuse, that spurs eager dressed-for-success entrepreneurs to see dueling with The Donald or the Queen of Clean as a challenge and opportunity. During a Thursday morning casting call at the University of Houston, dozens of carefully combed, neatly pressed and cautiously smiling UH alumni took their best shot at a role on The Apprentice.

"You are always marketing yourself," said Tiffany Spurlock, an administrative coordinator at the University of Houston and one of the applicants. "It would help me get more exposure, get my name out there."

Spurlock is the kind of job applicant most employers would be glad to see walk in the door: articulate, charming, confident. Friends have told her she'd be perfect for the show. The 27-year-old knows it could get rough but is ready for the challenge.

"Everything in life is how you handle it," she said. "You have to realize it's not business. You have to roll with the punches."

The punches are not literal on The Apprentice, but applicants must be able to take the heat, said casting director Kristina McGann.

"People don't realize how hard it is. You don't sleep, you don't do anything else while you are on the show. It is tough mentally. You have to have a lot of energy.

"It would be great to see a Cougar on The Apprentice," said UH career counselor Rachel Eddins.

Applicants were in suits, high heels, ties and hose, while interviewers appeared much more comfortable in jeans and flats.

The hopefuls were taken into small offices in ones or twos for brief interviews — usually about five minutes.

"Why do you want to be on the show?"

"Tell me about what you do?"

"Why did you get into that?"

McGann made few notes, mostly just listening. Even when an applicant seemed obviously wrong for the show, the casting director completed the interview and revealed nothing.

"We try not to decide in the first two seconds," McGann said. "Everybody should have their fair chance; they came down here, and we appreciate that."

Applicants were asked if they would rather be working for Trump or Stewart.

"(Stewart) would be interesting because here is a woman who has been branded a pariah because of the stock thing," Spurlock said. "She made a mistake, she's trying to make herself better. She has a lot of experience Mr. Trump probably wouldn't have. She knows what can happen."

"For Martha Stewart, we are really looking for self-starting entrepreneurs," McGann said. "Trump, we are looking for everyone, any kind of business person."

Now in it's third season, The Apprentice is casting contestants for a fourth season starring Trump, and a first with Stewart, who will soon begin five months of home confinement after her release from prison on an obstruction of justice conviction. Thursday's UH interviews are to be followed today by interviews for the general public.

While television exposure and opportunity were motivating factors for many of the would-be apprentices Thursday, some had other reasons to apply.

"Intrigue," said Samuel Edwards, 31, a securities, litigation and arbitration lawyer who looked the part in an expensive suit and overcoat. "Also I'm here for the entertainment value. There are some people in there who are clearly hanging their hopes on this. There are other people (for whom) this is a laugh. It's great to be involved, but at this level you are so far removed from any realistic chance."

Another attorney, 1997 UH graduate Bo Boyd, wanted to represent her home state.

"Frankly, I just want to put a Texan on the show. I don't care who they pick, but I would love to see a Texan."

This is the first time the show has cast in Houston. Lucky candidates from Thursday's and Friday's auditions will be called back for more extensive interviews Saturday.

"(On Saturday) it's almost like trying to get in their heads and see what they are thinking about," McGann said. "It's more like trying to read people. It can be 10 minutes to an hour."

Despite the brevity of the interviews, most of the UH alumni were glad they came.

"I think it went pretty well," Spurlock said. "I didn't go in expecting anything. The worst thing that can happen is I don't get picked."